US embassy cable - 04ACCRA1610

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001610 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, MOPS, GH 
SUBJECT: GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE: GHANA 
 
REF: STATE 154953 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Mary C. Yates, reason 1.5 (B/D). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador Yates delivered reftel points on the USG's 
Global 
Defense Posture review to Foreign Minister Akufo-Addo July 
27.  She 
emphasized the collaborative nature of the review, and noted 
that 
a similar demarche would be made upon the Ministry of Defense. 
She said that with the completion of the Exercise Reception 
Facility in Ghana, the concept of cooperative security 
envisioned in the strategy review already had a foundation 
here. 
She also briefly reviewed the status of several MOUs that 
required signature by the GOG (the C-12 basing in Accra, the 
African Fuel Hub Initiative), as examples of cooperative 
arrangements that reflected new security realities in Africa. 
 
Akufo-Addo agreed that Cold War defense arrangements were now 
out of date, and said that the review would be beneficial. 
He promised to review the status of the outstanding MOUs (now 
t the Office of the Attorney General).  If the GOG 
had any substantive response to the demarche points, after 
close 
review within his Ministry, appropriate officials would reply, 
he said. 
 
2. (C) DCM Lanier delivered reftel points to Chief of the 
Defense 
Staff, Lt. General Seth Obeng on July 28.  Lanier noted the 
evolution in the U.S. defense posture and praised Ghana for 
having already participated as a partner and ally in 
strategic readjustment, mentioning the same specific projects 
noted above. Gen. Obeng made it clear he was aware of the 
change 
in defense posture and was quite pleased with the cooperative 
security relations it fostered.  He gently warned, however, 
that the U.S. must be careful to be certain that in Africa the 
increased American presence did not look like occupation. 
He also asked that the assistance and benefits of the new 
U.S.-Ghana relationship be extended to other countries in 
region. 
He seemed concerned that the appearance of an excessively 
close 
relationship with the U.S. could damage Ghana's credibilty 
in the region. 
 
 
YATES 
 
YATES